Wu Zhen (烏震) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wu Zhen was a Later Tang Military Governor.

Life and dates

Death

AD 926 見殺
Killed in mutiny
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 38

Attested activity

AD 926 AD 921-926
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 29

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Mother of Wu Zhen
mother 母
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 31
Spouse of Wife of Wu Zhen
wife 妻
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 31

Kinship Role children · Quantity more than ten · Count 11
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 31

Career and standing

Military Governor of Ningguo 寧國軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 37
Grand Preceptor 太師
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 38

Places and affiliations

At Xindu, Ji prefecture 冀州信都
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 29

Events and relationships

Fought against
AD 921 討文禮 · Military · Commander · With Zhang Wenli (張文禮)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 31

Assessments and attributes

Assessment not truly loyal; deeply unfilial · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passages 40-44

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 26Volume 26 Later Tang Biographies 6: Fu Xi, Wu Zhen, Kong Qian, Zhang Yanlang, Li Yan, Li Renju, Mao Zhang · 8 passages

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烏震，冀州信都人也。 Wu Zhen came from Xindu in Ji prefecture.

習從莊宗於河上，而镕為張文禮所弒，震從習討文禮，而家在趙，文禮執震母妻及子十餘人以招震，震不顧。 Xi followed Zhuangzong on the river while Wenli murdered Wang Rong. Zhen marched with Xi against Wenli, but his kin were still in Zhao. Wenli seized Zhen’s mother, wife, and more than ten children to force him over. Zhen would not look.

震一慟而止，憤激自勵，身先士卒。 Zhen wept once, then checked himself. Shame hardened him; he took the van and fought at the head of the line.

晉軍攻破鎮州，震以功拜刺史，歷深、趙二州。 When Jin broke Zhenzhou, Zhen won a prefecture for his deeds and served at Deep and Zhao in turn.

震為人純質，少好學，通《左氏春秋》，喜作詩，善書。 Zhen was plain and honest. As a young man he studied the Zuo Commentary, wrote verse, and practiced calligraphy.

忠孝以義則兩得，吾既已言之矣，若烏震者，可謂忠乎？ By righteousness, loyalty and filial piety can both be kept—I have said as much already. But can a man like Wu Zhen be called loyal?

甚矣，震之不思也。 Wu Zhen did not think at all.

夫能事其親以孝，然後能事其君以忠，若烏震者，可謂大不孝矣，尚何有於忠哉！ Only a filial son can be a loyal minister. Wu Zhen was deeply unfilial—what loyalty could he claim?